White dog breeds can live long and healthy lives, but they can also develop some health issues because of their beautiful white fur.ĭeafness is a common health complication with white dogs. They select white breeds, or parents that carry the mutation of the MITF gene, to produce white puppies. Breeders have capitalized on this and now breed specifically for this genetic mutation. Many dog owners will pay more for a pure white dog. Most people claim we just bred for white fur because we like the color. Some breeds such as the White German Shepherd are bred white because they are easier to see at night and easily distinguishable from wild coyotes or wolves. White breeds are instead selectively bred for appearance. This is a common misconception! Coat color and pattern have no effect on a dog’s temperament.
Many people believe that white dogs were purposely bred because they were tamer than other dogs. Large white dogs are also seen as “rare”. But, for some reason, society has recently associated tiny white dogs with wealth and prestige. There really is no difference between white dogs and other breeds. It just results in the absence of pigment cells and therefore the absence of any color. In most cases this mutation is not harmful to a dog’s health. The MITF gene itself is not changed, but the gene expression is blocked. This mutation removes the presence of pigment cells in parts (or all) of the fur which results in a white dog. Pigment cells are vital for providing color to a dog’s fur. The MITF gene is responsible for producing pigment cells. White coats are caused by a mutation in a dog’s MITF gene.
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